If you’ve ever wondered where Angel’s bandits came from (in our other series, Flash and Bones), this story tells the tale of Jaden, her youngest recruit.

Jaden always wanted to join the Empire, so when he’s drafted into the army with all his villages’ young men, he’s ready to start his training.

It’s not what he thought it would be, and he immediately struggles with the usual bullies and adults who say he’s too young and won’t ever amount to much.

But then a group of bandits raids their camp!

They survive, but at a terrible cost, and Jaden’s life is sent in a direction he never planned. Will Jaden survive long enough to uncover the dark truth behind the empire?

(We're currently reformatting all the side-series to match the updated main Flash & Bones series)

Jaden and Derek are on the run as fugitives from the king.

They must gather supplies, infiltrate the Bandits raiding towns in the area, and discover the truth about who murdered the queen.

But as they are chased by dogs and bandits, tricked into stealing horses and constantly on the run, will the two be able to find answers before they are captured?

(We're currently reformatting all the side-series to match the updated main Flash & Bones series)

Derek is dead. Jaden is alone. Where is he supposed to go from here? He doesn’t have time to decide.

Raiding kingdom soldiers, dethroning the Bloody Betrayer, joining the bandit group under their new leader?

What starts as the simple goal of returning home turns into something more when Jaden is caught up in the power struggle between bandits and the kingdom.

But he’s no longer the scared kid he used to be.